Paper-holder



(No Model.) I A. B. SHERWOOD.

PAPER HOLDER.

No. 389,606. Patented Sept. 18, 1888.

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UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER B. SHERWOOD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PAPER-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,606, dated September 18, 1888. Application filed December 6, 1887. Serial No. 257,097. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER B. SHER- WOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented anew and useful Improvement in Paper-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to an improvement in the class ofdevices for holding writingpaper in piles of sheets or blocks in a manner convenient for writing, whether the writing be done while the device is supported on a table or desk or is carried in the hand. Devices adapted for use in the lastnamed manner are commonly termed orderholders, and myimprovement is particularly designed for use as such, though it is equally applicable to the purposes, generally, of a holder for writing-paper.

In devices of the class to which my improvement relates the prerequisite elements are a base to support the writing-paper and a suitable clamp on the base, serving to hold the paper in place and to permit ready insertion and withdrawal thereof. When used as an order-holdera use to which it is commonly applied by teamsters and thelike,and in which it is subjected to rough treatmenta'cover forms a feature of importance.

My invention has for its objects the provision of a paper-holding device of generallyimprovcd construction and great effectiveness, and the cover of which, when provided, shall be readily removable, to be replaced by another when worn out or impaired with the rough usage to which the device is subjected, particularly when employed as an orderholder.

It further consists in a paper-holder having a base, a clamping device on the base, comprising a rigid stop, and a spring-clamp normally pressing against the under side of the rigid stop, and a cover removably secured to the base.

My invention also consists in details of construction and combinations of parts.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device, showing the cover raised. to display features covered by it when down; Fig. 2, an enlarged longitudinal section of a broken portion of the same, show- I ing the cover down and the clamping device under side, as shown at :0, toward the edge at which the cover is secured, as hereinafter described. Toward its opposite end, on the upper side, the base A is also beveled, as shown at r, Fig. 1, and upon the beveled surface 1' is secured the coinciding portion ofthe lower surface of astiff plate, 13, preferably, but not me essarily, of wood, and extending in a slightlyinclined upward direction to within a short 7 distance of the edge of the base at which the clampingisproduccd, as hereinafter described.

The plate B corresponds, by preference, with the outline of the base A, and, as will hereinafter be explained, forms a support even or smooth throughout for the paper.

The effect of beveling the base A, as at r, and securing upon it the plate B in the manner stated, is to afford to the latter toward its free end a springy tendency in an upward direction when depressed from its normal position,though the same tendency would be produced by beveling the under surface of the plate B at the part of its surface shown to be secured to the base A, instead of or in addition to beveling the latter, as at r, and such construction is included as within the spirit of my invention.

0 is a stop, comprising a strip, prcferabl y of metal, secured to the base A, near the edge thereof, opposite that at which the plate B is fastened. Between the stop 0 and base A are strips p and p, which may be of wood, one upon the other, and having the flexible hinge o of the cover D clamped between them to secure the cover to the device, and the stop 0 is thus fastened upon the base indirectly by secur ing the strip 19 thereon, as by gluing it, and the strip 1) 011 the flexible hinge 0, and the stop 0 on the strip p by means of screws q or the like. The inner edge of the stop 0 projects some distance beyond the corresponding coincident edges of the strips 10 and p, and overlaps the free edge of the spring-plate B.

The device is used as follows: A pile or block of sheets of writing-paper, E, is introduced toward one edge by forcing down the springy portion of the plate B between the latter and the stop 0. The resilience of the plate B holds the paper in place by clamping it against the under side of the stop 0, and its upper surface affords a fiat support for the pa per. This incident of my improved construction,whereby a fiat support is provided for the paper, is due to the form of clamping device employed, in which the spring-plate B affords the clamping agent and operates automatically (the automatic operation being the gist of my invention) and is readily handled. The hinge 0 of the cover D, when the latter is provided, (though, as hereinbefore suggested, it is not always indispensable,) is secured midway between the stop 0 and base A, whereby the cover may be turned to cover flatly either side of the device, and the edge of the base A is beveled and slightly rounded, as shown at m, to prevent wear of the hinge when it comes into contact therewith. Vhen a cover is worn out or impaired with use, it is easily removed on withdrawing the fastening means q, and another may be readily substituted for it. If desired, the inner side of the cover may constitute ablotter by formingit of or covering it with blotting-paper.

While the form of base A shown is the one preferred, any other form which will answer the purpose is intended to be included as within the scope of my invention. Thus, inasmuch as the necessary flat support is afforded by the spring-plate B, it is immaterial what form be given the base A, so long as it answers the purpose of a base and conduces to the perfect operation of the clamping device.

It is obviously not necessary that the normal condition of the spring-clamp B shall be pressed against the stop 0 in the sense that it shall be normally in contact therewith; hence the expression normally pressing against the under side of the stop herein employed is intended to include the tendency of the clamping-plate to press toward the under side of the stop 0.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a paper-holder, the combination of a base provided with a rigid stop and an automatic spring-clamp normally pressing against the under side of the stop, substantially as described.

2. In a paper-holder, the combination of a base, a clamping device on the base, comprising a rigid stop and a spring-clamp normally pressing against the under side of the rigid stop, and a cover removably secured to the base, substantially as described.

3. In a paper-holder, the combination of a base, A, a strip, 0, secured to the base near one edge thereof and forming a stop, and a spring-plate, B, secured to the base and extending at its free end underneath the stop 0, substantially as described.

4. In a paper-holder, the combination of abase, A, a strip, 0, secured to the base near one edge thereof and forming a stop, and a springplate, 13, secured to the base on a bevel near the edge thereof opposite that provided with the stop and extending in an upward inclined direction underneath the stop 0, sub stantially as described.

5. In a paper-holder, the combination of a base, A, a strip, 0, secured to the base near one edge thereof and forming a stop, a cover, D, having a flexible hinge, 0, and removably secured at the hinge between the base and stop, and a spring-plate, B, secured to the base and extending at its free end underneath the stop 0, substantially as described.

e. In a paper-holder, the combination of a Hat base, A, a strip,O, secured to the base near one edge thereof and forming a stop, aplate, B,eonfor1ning in shape to that of the base and secured near one edge to a corresponding beveled edge of the base and extending at its free end underneath the stop G, substantially as described.

7. A paper-holder comprising, in combination, a base, A, strips p and p, secured to the base near one edge thereof, a strip,G, forming a stop secured upon the strips 1) and p and projecting beyond the inner coincident edges of the latter, a cover, I), having a flexible hinge, 0, secured between the strips 1) and p, and a plate, 13, secured to the base on a bevel near the edge thereof opposite that provided with the stop and extending underneath the projecting edge of the stop 0, substantiallyas described.

ALEX ANDER R. SHERWOOD.

In presence of- FRED MEDINo, B. J 

